CU Student Information
New students are advised to activate their IdentiKey and CU-Boulder Gmail as soon as possible, since important information, including the diagnostic exams, will be sent to their official CU-Boulder Gmail. If you need help activating your IdentiKey, please email the IT Service Center directly or phone (303) 735-HELP (4951).
Student Idendifiction Number (SID)
Upon confirming your acceptance to CU Boulder and paying the $200 confirmation deposit, you will be assigned a student identification number for your university file from the Graduate School Office of Admissions. Please safeguard your SID for your protection and keep it in your records for future reference. Your SID will be part of your IdentiKey activation.
IdentiKey
Throughout your CU Boulder career, you will use an IdentiKey, consisting of a username and password, to access most campus IT services. To activate your IdentiKey, please go to Identity Manager.
CU-Boulder Gmail
Once your IdentiKey is activated, you must use a combination of your CULoginName@colorado.edu (e.g. buff1234@colorado.edu) and IdentiKey password to log into your official CU-Boulder Gmail. When sharing your email address with others, you can use the format firstname.lastname@colorado.edu to protect your identiKey username.
MyCUInfo
MyCUInfo is an online portal where you will handle your affairs as a student, teacher, and employee while you are at CU Boulder. Here, you will pay your student fees, register for classes, and access the rosters of the courses you'll teach in addition to managing your contact information, direct deposit for your paychecks, and tax forms. To log in, you need to use your CU IdentiKey at MyCUInfo.
Buff OneCard
The Buff OneCard is the official campus identification card for all students at the University of Colorado at Boulder. All regularly enrolled, full time students are required to submit a photo for their Buff OneCard. You will receive an email from the Campus Card Services with instructions for submitting your Buff OneCard photo. Upon receiving your photo submission confirmation, you will be notified with the time and location to pick up your BuffOne Card. For more information about the Buff OneCard visit the Buff OneCard website.
Diagnostic Exams
The diagnostic exam is offered in the summer before a student starts and consists of two parts: algebra and analysis, both of which are based on the material in a typical first-semester undergraduate course. The goal is to establish how prepared students from widely varying backgrounds are for particular graduate courses.
On the basis of the exam results, the Graduate Committee will recommend that the student either register for the graduate courses or that the student take a lower-level course to make up for deficiencies. Typical recommendations are Math 5140 or Math 5150 (for algebra) and Math 5001 or AppM 5440 (for analysis). Although the exam is mandatory, the recommendations are only advisory, and the student may choose not to follow them. Students who choose to take the lower-level courses recommended by the Graduate Committee may be granted extra time to pass their preliminary exams and pillar courses.
Undergraduate courses recommended by the Graduate Committee on the basis of diagnostic exam results will count toward the student's graduate credit requirements; however no other undergraduate-level courses will count without explicit permission from the Graduate Committee.
Paychecks and Fees
The majority of the graduate students are funded through teaching assistantships, and this makes you an employee of the university. If you are a funded student, you will receive your first paycheck on August 31st, which will be half the size of your other paychecks throughout the academic year (end of each month from September to April). The other half of your first paycheck will be distributed on May 31st the following year.
Direct Deposit
For all newly hired university employees, direct deposit is required. You can set up direct deposit through MyCUInfo -> CU Resources -> My Compensation -> Direct Deposit. All employees who do not enroll in direct deposit in time will be issued a Skylight Paycard.
Student Fees and Billing
Fall semester graduate student fees are typically due after your first full paycheck. You can view and pay your bill through MyCUInfo -> Student -> Billing Information. If you are a funded student, be sure to check that your billing reflects your tuition remission and health insurance benefits.
New-Student Orientation Week
All new graduate students are required to attend New-Student Orientation, which occurs the week prior to the start of classes. The goal is to inform and connect new graduate students with the department for a smooth transition to their graduate lives. Some training events during orientation are required by the university’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) for all new faculty, staff and student staff. Be sure to arrive in Boulder at least one week early to attend orientation.
During the New-Student Orientation, you will meet the department chair, graduate chair, faculty members, postdocs, office staff, and your fellow graduate students. You will complete any required paperwork with the Graduate Assistant, attend workshops designed to prepare first-time teachers, and get answers to any questions you have about graduate life at the department. A complete schedule will be sent to you prior to orientation week.
Residency Status
This section does not apply to international students with student visas e.g. F1, F-2, H-3, J-1, M-1 and M-2, as they do not qualify for in-state tuition and should not submit petitions.
Based on the information you provide in your admission application, you are classified as either a "resident" or a "nonresident" upon confirming your intent to attend CU Boulder. You can also check your classification through MyCUInfo -> Profile & Settings -> Residency for Tuition Purposes.
If you do not already qualify for in-state tuition, you can become eligible after one full year of living in Colorado. To qualify for in-state tuition, you must complete a Petition for In-State Tuition Classification. The petition requires proof of residence in Colorado for the entire year, such as a signed lease, as well as documentation that you have registered to vote, obtained a Colorado driver’s license, registered your vehicle and filed Colorado state income taxes. For more information on the process, please visit the Office of the Registrar Tuition Classification.
International Students
If you are an international student, i.e. a student who is not a US citizen or permanent resident, and are on a non-immigrant temporary visa, such as F-1, J-1, H-4, etc., the staff at the Office of International Admissions and the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) should already have been in touch with you regarding your admission and immigration documents.
ISSS
Please visit the ISSS New Students webpage for a complete list of new international student information, including when to arrive, the mandatory International Student Orientation, and the additional mandatory Immigration Reporting Session.
English Proficiency
Every international student whose native language is not English and who is awarded a teaching assistantship must take an English language screening test at the University of Colorado International English Center. In addition to testing, this facility offers free classes on English pronunciation to students. For more information about the English language screening test, please visit the International English Center Screening Test webpage. International students are strongly encouraged to gain full proficiency with the English language at the earliest possible opportunity. This should be given high priority in the first year of graduate school.